From Marissa Rodriguez
Brodhead
To the editor:
I feel compelled to write to you and let people know what is happening with respect to the Community/Senior Center related to my husband Julio and I, in view of the threatening and hate mail we have been receiving.
I think Brodhead citizens need to be educated about this. We just happen to own the building the city is considering, and several civic-minded people have been promoting the acquisition and improvement of the property.
When we were approached about the possibility of the city buying our building, we agreed to sell it for about half of what the property is worth, and in addition, to donate adjacent land south of the property to be used as a parking lot. We have made our home in Brodhead for the last 41 years, raised our children and provided dental care to the community. Brodhead has been good to us, and we want to be good to Brodhead.
There have been many discussions about the need to have this Community Center. It is not up to us but the people in town to decide. We try to stay away from Brodhead politics since we live in Decatur Township and can't vote in Brodhead. All we can say is there is not a month that goes by where some group or private party doesn't approach us about the possibility of using our facility. Other civic-minded towns, like Juda for example, have a Community Center that is used for private and civic events. I don't understand why Brodhead is so hesitant about this worthy initiative.
I am appalled at people who hide behind anonymous notes to threaten and belittle us, using us for politics or their private interests. These are not the people we have known and befriended for the last 41 years. I have no idea why this is happening. It saddens me to be targeted when we have nothing to do with the matter at hand.
We have been considering other options for the use of the building. There have been inquiries about turning it into a sports bar, a homeless shelter or office space. We are waiting for the city to decide whether to go ahead with their plans before we commit to another group.
I hope this answers many questions implied in those anonymous and unfortunate letters.
Brodhead
To the editor:
I feel compelled to write to you and let people know what is happening with respect to the Community/Senior Center related to my husband Julio and I, in view of the threatening and hate mail we have been receiving.
I think Brodhead citizens need to be educated about this. We just happen to own the building the city is considering, and several civic-minded people have been promoting the acquisition and improvement of the property.
When we were approached about the possibility of the city buying our building, we agreed to sell it for about half of what the property is worth, and in addition, to donate adjacent land south of the property to be used as a parking lot. We have made our home in Brodhead for the last 41 years, raised our children and provided dental care to the community. Brodhead has been good to us, and we want to be good to Brodhead.
There have been many discussions about the need to have this Community Center. It is not up to us but the people in town to decide. We try to stay away from Brodhead politics since we live in Decatur Township and can't vote in Brodhead. All we can say is there is not a month that goes by where some group or private party doesn't approach us about the possibility of using our facility. Other civic-minded towns, like Juda for example, have a Community Center that is used for private and civic events. I don't understand why Brodhead is so hesitant about this worthy initiative.
I am appalled at people who hide behind anonymous notes to threaten and belittle us, using us for politics or their private interests. These are not the people we have known and befriended for the last 41 years. I have no idea why this is happening. It saddens me to be targeted when we have nothing to do with the matter at hand.
We have been considering other options for the use of the building. There have been inquiries about turning it into a sports bar, a homeless shelter or office space. We are waiting for the city to decide whether to go ahead with their plans before we commit to another group.
I hope this answers many questions implied in those anonymous and unfortunate letters.
